Unit Manager

Company Overview

NEP UK, part of the NEP Group, is the leading provider of outside broadcasting, fixed rig, utilising a combination of traditional, centralised, remote and cloud production workflows. With over 30 years of experience serving the broadcast and live events industry, NEP UK delivers the highest quality content with credits including The Championships at Wimbledon, Olympics, British horse racing, The English Premier League Football, Football League, Premier League Rugby, UFC, WWE, WTA Tennis, Love Island, Formula 1, Extreme E, and The Circle.

The NEP Group is the leading international provider of outsourced television production services in the broadcast industry. NEP has the largest fleet of OB trucks and flypacks in the world, with over 150 4K & HD trucks and a full complement of support trucks. Coupled with a complete line of camera systems, record/replay servers & edit solutions, equipped and "four-walled" studios in New York, UK, the Netherlands, Oslo and Australia, custom control room design and integration capabilities and an arsenal of plasma, LED, projection and digital cinema displays, NEP Group offers the deepest pool of assets anywhere.

Our top-of-the-range equipment is backed and operated by the finest technical, engineering and operations teams in the business. Over 5,000 employees worldwide run many exceptional brands including: NEP UK, NEP US Mobile Units, NEP Connect, NEP Europe, NEP Netherlands, NEP Australia, Broadcast Solutions, Fletcher, Sweetwater, Bow Tie Television, Screenworks, Denali, Silk Studios, Creative Technology, Faber Audiovisuals, Screen Scene, Digital Space, OBStv & NEP Ireland.

Role Overview

As a Unit Manager working with some of NEP's key clients (Sky Sports, ITV Sport, BBC Sport, NBC, Prime Video etc.), you will support and deliver events on these key contracts primarily across the UK. You will work in tandem with Operations and Engineering to ensure continuity of services and delivery from across the business. The type of delivery will vary in complexity from "Traditional" OBs to "Full Remote" OBs working in various formats (HD SDR, HD HDR, UHD SDR, UHD HDR), with the potential for working internationally should the need arise.

The role incorporates the management and maintenance of existing business relationships as well as looking for new ways to maximise the growth and development of further business opportunities with our clients. You will be expected to take a proactive approach to developing relationships with the client, sporting clubs/organisations and the crew delivering these events. This position will suit someone with prior experience and knowledge in delivering or working on high volume sports contact OBs. The ideal person will be able to demonstrate exceptional time management skills and know how to prioritise a dynamic and ever shifting workload and adhere to deadlines; whilst also possessing the ability to remain calm and work effectively under pressure.

Key Responsibilities

• You will be expected to take a proactive approach to motivate, support, and empower colleagues as you collaborate with all NEP UK functions to deliver OBs to specification and budget.
• Provide early indication of crew resources/levels, cable schedules and equipment levels to HOD's and NEPs Sky football management & coordination team.
• Consult with rigging and logistics, and NEP Operations to ensure requirements are advised at the earliest opportunity to guarantee optimal price and availability of NEP UK facilities.
• Manage, liaise, meet, and greet client representatives, to ensure client satisfaction and future growth with our clients.
• Establish meetings with clients and forge new and ongoing relationships to build on NEP performance levels.
• You will be required to assist and support any new technical innovations that are introduced to the contracts throughout the contract term.
• Provide promptly planning sheets, schedules, equipment requirements and any schematics (TV compound parking, camera plans etc) block diagrams and/or technical drawings to help the team and client understand the technical requirements (TV compound parking plans, camera plans, commentary, and interview positions etc).
• Consult with third party suppliers such as specialist equipment suppliers, scaffolding, hoist, power and catering.
• Be the primary point of contact for the client, production, crew liaison, and OB security whilst on location.
• Manage and react to any changes brought on by unforeseen circumstances or changes by the client.
• Check all facilities prior to handover to client to ensure the facilities are ready and as per the planning sheet.
• You will ideally be adept in the use of Visio and/or other system schematic design tools to draw design solutions and demonstrate them internally to share your thinking and work with department heads to understand the challenge and be effective in tackling it.
• Arrange and agree final invoice/match costs upon completion of a job with your Production Manager and submit these in a timely manner to the NEP contract management team (on match days). You will have knowledge and oversight of all costs, consulting with the client, NEP contract management team, coordination and finance teams regularly for completeness.
• Working closely with NEP own Health & Safety, be responsible for site surveys and take ownership for health and safety on location for NEP UK operations, including preparation of risk assessments, method statements, reporting of breaches or near miss reports, and accident reports if necessary.
• Ensure the unit(s) is powered and opened and closed in a safe and correct manner under your supervision.

What We're Looking For:

• Relevant broadcast or production experience with minimum 5 years' experience in Outside Broadcast with good technical knowledge and understanding of Live/recorded production capturing techniques.
• Relevant broadcast systems, operations, technical and engineering knowledge and experience across video, sound, and high definition & Ultra high-definition workflows.
• Knowledge of transmission paths and communications, equipment knowledge and specifications relevant to live sports/event productions.
• General health and safety awareness and compliance with risk assessments is required; SMSTS or SSSTS training is advantageous, but training can be provided.
• Project and people management skills are essential for delivery and to motivate and inspire those around you.
• Strong and confident communicator with positive interpersonal skills.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure and with demonstrable time management expertise to help prioritise workload and adhere to deadlines.
• Proactive and self-motivated; ability to use initiative.
• Willingness to travel in the UK and Internationally (if required) for the delivery of events; full clean UK driving licence.
• Computer literacy; excellent Microsoft Office skills, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio.

Benefits:

At NEP UK, you'll be part of a team that brings the world's biggest live and broadcast events to life. We pride ourselves on innovation and excellence, and our global team of over 4,000 employees is driven by a shared passion for technology and creativity. Ensuring we have our employees covered at NEP is a top priority:

• Cycle to Work Scheme: Fancy a new pair of wheels and want to reduce your carbon footprint at the same time? Our Cycle to Work scheme offers money-saving on bikes, safety equipment, and other accessories while promoting healthier and environmentally friendly journeys to work.
• Pension: We offer a contributory pension scheme to our employees and encourage everyone to invest in their future through a long-term savings plan with tax relief. Our pension partner also provides access to other saving products such as ISAs and GIAs.
• Training: Our aim is to develop and inspire our future leaders and people of tomorrow. At NEP, we are committed to developing our people and ensuring everyone who works here can build a fantastic career. Unlimited online training is at our fingertips through our training platforms. We provide financial aid and paid time off for job-related qualifications and study that will support you in your career with NEP.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP): Free 24/7 access to financial, legal, health, and wellbeing resources and support for employees and their immediate families.
• Private Medical Insurance (PMI): Employees and their families can access world-class healthcare and treatment with medical history disregard coverage plans.
• Eye Care: Employees receive free access to eyesight tests with Specsavers, and contributions towards the cost of prescription glasses.
• Hearing Tests: A dedicated in-house testing unit for all UK employees.
• Life Insurance: Financial security for your loved ones.